Shimla, Dec 06: The 13.25 Km-long Barog by-pass on Shimla-Kalka National Highway, constructed at a cost of Rs 18.75 crore, would be dedicated to the people by Union minister for surface transport B C Khanduri at Solan. The by-pass would link Solan and Kumarhatti through a double-lane level road and reduce the driving time.

The original road through famous tourist resort of Barog required a steep climb and a descent on either side of Barog. Breakdown of vehicles and obstruction in traffic during snowfall was a common sight.

The Barog and Solan by-pass were planned as a part of widening of Shimla-Kalka National Highway to cope up with increasing traffic and to reduce traffic congestion in Solan town and Barog.

While the Solan by-pass was opened about ten years ago, the Barog by-pass took over 14 years to be opened for traffic.

The by-pass snaked through the forest land and 10.512 hectare of forest land was transferred to national highway after getting approval from the Union forest and environment ministry in 1990. Bureau Report